Officials initially set 2000 as the deadline for restoring bay water quality but pushed the target back to 2010 when it became apparent they weren't close to reaching the goals of the agreements they'd signed. Eight years ago, they agreed to begin mandating pollution reductions by regulation if their mostly voluntary "partnership" failed to make adequate progress by the end of this decade. Officials now say progress has been so slow it may be 2040 before water quality goals are reached.
O'Malley, Kaine, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and others huddled privately for three hours at Union Station here before emerging to announce what they'd agreed upon - which included a pledge to push for development of cleaner new "biofuels" distilled from wood products and switchgrass rather than corn.
They had been expected to discuss setting a new deadline for the cleanup effort, and how to ensure that the states and federal government will do what's needed in the ensuing years to make progress this time.
